Traversed by the Vichtbach River, Stolberg is a historic industrial town east of Aachen. It was first mentioned in the 12th century and became an important centre for brass when Protestant manufacturers facing persecution in Aachen resettled here. When the industry declined in the mid-19th century, Stolberg became a hub for glass and textile works.
Things to do in Stolberg
Dominating the town centre is Burg Stolberg, an impressive castle originally built in the 12th century. It was destroyed in 1375 and rebuilt in 1450 before a 19th-century reconstruction by Moritz Kraus. Today, the Historicist and Renaissance-style castle houses the Museum in the Torburg, which explores the industrial and artisan history of the region.
Dotting Stolberg are several kupferhöfe, historic copper yards where brass products were manufactured from the 17th century. One of the most beautiful is the Kupferhöfe Rosental, which was built as a courtyard complex in 1724 for Johannes Schleicher. In addition to its magnificent bridge gate, it features a large portal depicting the goddess Aurora.
Sprawling east of Stolberg is the Wehebachtalsperre, a large reservoir surrounded by hiking trails and panoramic lookout points. You can stroll along the dam wall or trek to the Klosterruine Schwarzenbroich, a complex of monastic ruins that once housed the Crusaders of the Order of the Holy Cross. South of Stolberg is one of the area’s quirkiest attractions, the Kartoffelbaum, a chestnut tree decorated with hanging potatoes.
Getting around Stolberg
Stolberg is around 25 minutes' drive from Aachen and an hour from Cologne. Cologne-Bonn Airport is also an hour away and has flights to destinations across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Trains connect to the Stolberg Altstadt railway station and buses travel through the town.